Alternative Dispute Resolution - about the scheme

How the scheme operates

This scheme is owned and run by the four South Yorkshire Trading Standards Services and is totally independent. For administrative purposes it is housed within Doncaster Council's Trading Standards service.

Alternative Dispute Resolution is part of a wider European scheme details of which can be found here.

Our scheme is led and managed by a Trading Standards Manager.

Officials employed by the scheme will assess the evidence presented to them and form a judgement with regard to the most effective means of resolving the dispute. Our officials are all Trading Standards professionals with appropriate qualifications and experience in relation to consumer law, assessment of evidence and decision making. Where Officials are remunerated from the scheme's resources this is on a fixed fee basis and they are not incentivised in any way beyond this.

You can use a third party, a friend or solicitor to help you, but usually there is no need for this. If you do, you may not be awarded the cost of their help, if any.

When considering your case our adjudicators will take into account the following principles: the law, any known industry standards, fairness and equity.

Consumers may withdraw from the process at any time. Business may withdraw at any time unless there is a legal duty on them to participate or it is a condition of their membership of a trade association or similar body in which they participate.

The outcome is not binding on the consumer. The outcome is binding on the business.